Manually or automatically actuated air-pressure-responsive controller



'Juune 25. 1956 I s, HIGGINS, JR, EI'AL 2,751,918

MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 I s w v 1 H6. I

l I :47 A's.

3 SET POINT J ALTERNATE CONNECTION MANUAL EXH. 8| EXH. ATM.

THROTTLING RANGE 85 6 RESET EXH.ATM. EXH.

INVENTOR. STEPHEN P.HIGGINS JR.

PEMBERTON H. 0:! NKER ATTORNEY June 26. 1956 s. P. HIGGINS, JR., ETAL 2,751,918

MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSUREZ-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 LM N INVENTOR. STEPHEN P. HIGGINS JR.

BYPEMBERTON H.DR|NKER ATTORNEY June 26. 1956 Filed Dec. 28, 1950 FIG.4

S. P. HIGGINS, JR., U L MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

STEPHEN P. HIGGINS JR. BYPEMBERTON H.DRINKER ATTORNEY.

June 26. 1956 s s, JR, EIAL 2,751,918

MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

STEPHEN P. HIGGINS JR. PEMBERTON H. DRINKER June 26. 1956 s. PQHIGGINS, JR, EFAL 2,751,913

MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 28, 1950 INVENTOR.

STEPHEN P. HIGGINS JR.

BY PEMBERTON H. DRINIKER AT ORNEY.

June 26. 1956 s. P. HIGGINS, JR. ETA!- MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28, 1950 FIG. 22

9 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY June 26. 1956 s, H]GG|N5,-JRLL EI'AL 2,751,918

MANUALLY AUTOMA A Y ACTUATED AIR-PRESS RESPO VE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 "FIN:

INVENTOR.

STEPHEN P. HIGGINS PEMBERTON H. DRINK ATTORNEY June 26. 1956 s, magma, JR EI'AL 2,751,918

MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG.35

INVENTOR. STEPHEN P. HIGGINS JR. PEMBERTON H. DRINKER ATTORNEY.

June 26. 1956 s HIGGINS, JR, ET AL 2,751,918

UALLY OR ALL.

MAN AUTOMATIC Y ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-REISPONSIVE CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 28, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 F I e. 3e R 668 641 \a ,671 64 Hill! 4% r III k MANUAL AUTOMATIC INVENTORS. STEPHEN F. HIGGINS JR. PEMBERTQN H. DRINKER ATTORNEY.

United States Patent MANUALLY 0R AUTDMATICALLY ACTUATED AIR-PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE CONTROLLER Stephen P. Higgins, Jr., Philadelphia, and Pemberton H.

Drinker, Straiford, Pa., assignors to Minneapolis- Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1950, Serial No. 203,174

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-85) This invention relates to fluid-pressure-operated controllers adapted for either manual or automatic operation under the control of either a manually operable transmitting instrument or of an automatically operable measuring instrument, which instruments may be located adjacent the controller or remote therefrom.

It is an object of this invention to provide a controller which, because of its novel and simple construction, gives improved and accurate control action.

More specific objects of this invention are to provide a controller having one or more of the following novel features.

The controller is responsive to one fluid pressure (herein called the measured variable pressure) which pressure is proportional to the measured variable and to another fluid pressure (herein called the set point pressure) which pressure is manually adjustable to vary the value of the controlled variable which, at any instant, the automatic controller tends to maintain. A plate is adjustable to reverse the connections between the controller and the set poin pressure and between the controller and the measured variable pressure so as to reverse the directions in which these pressures actuate the controller.

The controller contains a control-exercising element, such as a flapper valve. Two springs bias this element in one direction or the other. A manually operable handle varies the direction in which these springs bias the flapper. A normally stationary nozzle cooperates with this flapper and is manually adjustable. This adjustment of the nozzle permits establishing normal or at rest position of the diaphragms so that two of these diaphragms have equal eflective areas. The spring adjustment introduces a compensating force to cancel out force differences in the remaining set of diaphragms due to area difierences. The use of two springs allows this bias to be applied to the diaphragms in either direction.

The aforementioned set point pressure and measured variable pressure cooperate to produce a third pressure (herein called the controller output pressure).

The throttling range or proportional band of the controller is manually adjusted by fluid operated means containing a relay having a substantially one-to-one ratio so that the controller operates in a sensitive and accurate manner at every position of adjustment of the throttling range or proportional band.

A fourth fluid pressure (herein called the reset pressure) is applied to the controller and varies in the same direction as the variation in the controller outpu pressure. The reset pressure is supplied through a conduit containing a manuallyadjustable restriction. This restriction is so located with respect to the valve which shifts the controller from Manual to Automatic or vice versa in such a way that the reset restriction is bypassed and inoperative when the controller is in Manual position.

DRAWINGS The drawings comprise the following figures:

Fig. 1, schematic diagram with parts in longitudinal cross section.

Fig. 2, front elevation with parts broken away in longitudinal cross section, showing the controller formed of a number of parts A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, I, K, L, M, and N.

Fig.- 3, end view as viewed from the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4, longitudinal cross section taken from Fig. 3 on line 44 showing the chambers 1-16 and the diaphragms AA-LL.

Fig. 5, end view of ring A.

Fig. 6, end view of ring B.

Fig. 7, end View of ring C.

Fig. 8, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 7 on line 8-8.

Fig. 9, end view of ring D.

Fig. 10, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 9 on line 10-10.

Fig. 11, end view of ring E.

Fig. 12, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 11 on line 1212.

Fig. 13, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 11 on line 13-13.

Fig. 14, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 11 on line 14--14.

Fig. 15, longitudinal cross section on an enlarged scale of resistance screw 24.

Fig. 16, end view of ring F.

Fig. 17, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 16 on line 1717.

Fig. 18, end view of ring G.

Fig. 19, end view of ring H.

Fig. 20, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 19 on line 2020.

Fig. 21, end view of ring I.

Fig. 22, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 21 on line 2222 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 23, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 21 on line 23-23.

Fig. 24, perspective view of spring 30.

Fig. 25, face or plan view of pneumatic switch 73.

Fig. 26, end view of ring I.

Fig. 27, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 26 on line 27-27.

Fig. 28, end view of ring K.

Fig. 29, end view of ring L.

Fig. 30, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 29 on line Bill-30.

Fig. 31, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 29 on line 3131.

Fig. 32, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 29 on line 3232.

Fig. 33, end view of ring M.

Fig. 34, end view of ring N.

Fig. 35, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 34 from line 3535.

Fig. 36, longitudinal cross section from Fig. 34 on line 36-36.

Fig. 37, face or plan view of a portion of the outside edge of part I on the same scale as Fig. 25.

Fig. 38, a longitudinal cross section through valve 6670.

Fig. 39, two transverse cross sections on line 3939 of Fig. 38.

Fig. 40, two transverse cross sections on line 40-40 70 of Fig. 38.

' exhaust of air from chamber'15 to chamber 14 and port '23. to atmosphere. Chamber '16 is also connected through a fixed restriction 24 to motor chamber, 13, and, through nozzle generally indicated at 25, to valve chamber 10 which is exhausted to atmosphere through port 2 6. v Pivotally. mounted in chamber is a valve, generally indicated at 27, adapted to cooperate with the inwardly projecting end of nozzle so asjto vary the flow of fluid therethrough. A valve actuating member, generally indicated at 28, contacts valv'e'27 so ras to actuate it A conical spring 29 stresses member 28 in one direction and a U-shaped spring 3% (Fig. 24) stresses it in the opposite direction. A manually operable member 30B. varies the bias of spring 36 on member 28 so that the bias of spring 36 may be more than 'or less than the bias of spring 29. In other words, member 28 may be biased to the right or to the left as seen in Fig. l.

The controller is arranged to be responsive to 'a measuring instrument, disclosed as a flow meter 32 responsive to the flow of fluid through a conduit 33. Of course, any type of measure instrument which is capable of con- 'verthrg a measured variable into an air pressure may be employed, The controller controls the actuation of a final control valve 34 in conduit 33 or is otherwise arranged to vary a quantity or condition so as to aflect the value of the controlled variable of the process under control.

Flow meter 32 has a diaphragm 35 which rocks a flapper lever 36 about a supporting, sealing bellows 37 so that the flapper lever 36 varies the flow of fluid from a nozzle 38 supplied with air from a source 39 through a restriction 40. The variations causedsby the variations inflow through nozzle 38 are applied to a follow-up bellows '41 so as to restore the flapper lever 36 to its original position. Air pressureproportional to the value of the variable measured by the measuring instrurn'ent 32 is fed through pipe 42 to an inlet port 43 and to a gauge 44.

A remotely located, manually operable, fluid pressure transmitting instrument isr'contained within the casing indicated by the broken lines 45. This transmitter consists of a supply of air 46 which transmits ai'r'th'rough a restriction 47 to a nozzle 48 and a motor bellows 49 having a free end secured to a T-shaped exhaust port 50, connected by a sealing bellows "51 to a casing 52. A 'nozz le 53 is connected to source 46 and projects into the casing 52 so as to cooperate with flapper 54. A second flapper 55 is pivotally mounted adjacent nozzle 48 and is adapted to be moved by a manually operable 56 through a differential lever 57.

The air pressure thus set up under the control of handle 56 escapes from casing 52 by pipe 58 which has a branch 59 leadingto a follow-up bellows 60 having a mechanical connection 61 forming another input to differential lever 57 so as to restore flapper 55 to its original position.

Pipe 58 also has a branch 62 which leads to a second inlet port '63. Pipe 58 has a third branch 64 Which leads through one set of ports 65 of a valve which is manually operable by handle 66. The opposite side of valve 65 is connected to a branched pipe 67 containing gauge 68 and terminating in the controller in chamber 3.

Another source of fluid pressure 69 communicates with a second valve section 70 having an outlet port connected to a pipe 71 which terminates in the controller at chamber 1. A second output port of valve 70 connects to an exhaust port 72. The ports of valve section 65 are arranged so that communication is established between 4 pipes 64 and 67 when valve section 70 is set to establish communication between pipe 71 and exhaust 72 so that there is no pressure in chamber 1 and the valve in controller chamber 3 is in the left hand or Manual position. When the ports of valve section 70 are set by handle 66 to establish communication between supply 69 and conduit 71 so that supply pressure is supplied to control chamber 1, the valve in chamber 3 is in the right-hand or Automatic position while the air pressure under the control of manually operable handle 56 is shut off by the valve section 65.

The details of the valve having one section comprising a set of ports 65 and another section comprising the set of ports 70 is shown in Figs. 38, 3 9, and 40.

This valve is of the well known, commercially available plug type. The valve comprises a handle 66 having a recess 66% in it. Recess 660 is triangular or many sided in shape so as to receive a stem 661 with a close fit in it. Stern 661 is mounted on a valve plug 662 of frusto conical shape. ,Valve plug 662 is received in a casing comprising a tubular portion 663 having an interiorcavity of frusto conical shape closely fittingthe outer surface of plug 662. The other end of valveplug 662 is sealed in the casing by means of a 'disc 664 and a ring-shaped gasket 665. Valve plug 662 and valve disc 664 have openings 668 and :666 in them, respectively. V In these openings is located a spring 667 Which forces valve plug 662 into closed, sliding engagement with case 663.

The first valve section, generally indicated at 65, comprises an inlet pipe64 mounted in an inlet port 641 in valve casing 663 and an outlet port 67 mounted in an outlet port 671 in valve casing 663. Valve jplugv 662 has a conduit. 651 through'it which may be turnedto connect ports 641 and 671, as shown in the upper ,por- 'tion of Fig. 40,, or to disconnectthese ports, as shown in the lower section of Fig, 40.

The valve section generally indicated at 70 comprises an inlet pipe 69 mounted in an inlet port 691, an exhaust port 72 mounted in an exhaust port 721, and an outlet pipe 71 mounted in an outlet port 711. Valve 1115662 has in its outer surface a notch or groove. 761 which extends partially around valve plug'662.

Groove 701 may connect inlet port 691 to outletrport 711 and, at the same time, plug 662sea-ls exhaust ,port 721-, as shown in Fig. 39 at the bottom, or groove 701 may connect outlet port 711 with exhaust port 721 and,

handle 'at the same time, inlet port 691 is sealed by valve plug 662, as shown in Fig. 39 at the top.

Figs. 21, and 25 show that ports 43 and 63 terminate beneath a plate 73 which may be connected to the controller casing in either of two positions. In the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, plate 73 contains conduit 74 connecting port 43 with chamber 11 while conduit 75-connects port "63 with chamber 9. In such a position chamber :11 is thus subject to the airx-p'ressure which is proportional to the variable measured by the measuring element 32 while chamber 9 is subjected to the pressure which is proportional to the pressure which is manually established by handle 56 which thus sets the point from which the deviations of the measured variable are'measured. A more complete description of the actual construction of these ports and-conduits is-given below.

Conduit 76 connects chamber 16'with chambers 7 and 8 through restriction 77 and connects chamber 16 with chamber 5 through restriction 78. Chambersf'S and 6 are connected by a conduit containing restrict-ion 79.

'The regulated fluid pressure established :in chamber 15 by the operation of the controller passes through conduit 80 and manually adjustable restriction 81 to chamber 6. This air als'o passes through conduits 8'9, "82,

chambers 2 and 3, and conduit 87 to chamber 4.

Chamber 3 is connected by conduit 83 to the final control valve 34. Conduit 111 containing a manually operable restriction 86 connects conduit 83 to chamber 4 in parallel with conduit 87.

Operation of controller Fig. 1 shows the variable fluid pressure inlet port 43 connected through conduit 74 to chamber 11 and the set point fluid pressure inlet port 63 connected through conduit 75 to chamber 9. Also in Fig. 1, valve 89 in chamber 3 is assumed to be in the right-hand or Automatic position. If the measured variable flow through pipe 33 varies, diaphragm 35 causes flapper lever 36 to vary the fluid pressure escaping through nozzle 38. This variation in the fluid pressure from source 39 in pipe 42 causes bellows 41 to give a follow-up movement to flapper lever 36 and thus restore it to its original position. This variation in fluid pressure is also .transmitted through pipe 42, inlet port 43, and conduit 74, to chamber 11. From source 46 fluid pressure passes under the control of manually operable handle 56 through pipes 58, 62, inlet port 63, and conduit 75 to chamber 9. There is thus established in chamber 9 a fluid pressure which actuates the valve-actuating member 28 in the opposite direction to the pressure in chamber 11. Any difference in the pressure in chamber 11 from that in chamber 9 causes rod 28 to move flapper 27 with respect to nozzle 25. This varies the pressure in chambers 25A and 13 and causes inlet valve 21 or exhaust valve 22 to be opened so as to admit air to or exhaust air from chamber 15, which therefore contains an air pressure regulated by the controller. This air pressure from chamber is transmitted through conduits 80 and 90 to chamber 12 where it causes a follow-up movement of rod 28 and flapper 27. This variation in pressure is also transmitted from chamber 16 through conduit 80 and variable restriction 81 to chamber 6 where it varies the pressure applied to diaphragm DD and thus varies the pressure in chamber 8 and gives a throttling range adjustment to rod 28, and consequently to flapper 27. This variation in pressure in chamber 15 also passes through conduits 80, 82, and chambers 2 and 3. Since valve 89 closes conduit 87 this pressure change passes through conduits 83 and 111 and adjustable restriction 86 to chamber 4. A variation in pressure in chamber 4 moves diaphragm CC and thereby varies the pressure applied from chamber 5 through restriction 79 to chamber 6 which in turn influences the pressure in chamber 8 and actuates rod 28 and consequently flapper 27 with a reset action.

If it is desired to actuate the controller and consequently the final control valve 34 manually instead of automatically by means of measuring element 32, handle 66 is shifted so that communication is shut off by valve section 70 between source 69 and conduit 71 to chamber 1. Communication is opened from chamber 1 through conduit 71, valve section 70, and port 72 to exhaust. This reduces the pressure in chamber 1 and causes valve 89 to shift because of its bias (not shown) from the right-hand or Automatic position of Fig. 1 to the lefthand or Manual position. With valve 89 in the lefthand or Manual position, adjustment of handle 56 varies the air pressure put out from relay casing 52 through conduits 58, 64, valve section 65, conduit 67, chamber 3, and a conduit 83, to final control valve 84. This air pressure is also applied from chamber 3 through conduit 87 to chamber 4 where it serves to adjust the instantaneous position of flapper 27 so that it is in proper proportion to the setting of the final control valve 34.

Detailed description of controller Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, it will be seen that this controller is composed of a plurality of parts, of generally disc or cylindrical shape, and numbered respectively A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, and N. The parts AN are separated by the diaphragms AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, 66, HH, II, J], KK, and LL.

Parts C and D are sealed by a gasket 91A (Fig. 4). The parts AN are secured together by a plurality of bolts 91 which are attached by means of screw threads 92 to part N and which are held in position at their outer ends by nuts 93. The controller may be held at any convenient position by a mounting plate 94 secured to the controller by screws 95 (Fig. 3).

Pressure regulating pilot valve or relay Figs. 1, 4, 35, and 36 show that a supply of filtered air is connected through pipe 20 to chamber 16 with which conduit 80 communicates (Fig. 35). Conduit 76 also communicates with chamber 16 by means of a filter 96 so that the supply of air from chamber 16 to restrictions 24, 77, and 78, and to nozzle 25, is filtered.

Fig. 4 shows that part N also contains chamber 15 to which air is admitted from chamber 16 through inlet valve 21 which is stressed towards the left by spring 97. Diaphragm LL separates chamber 15 from chamber 14. Spring 98 stresses outlet valve 22 to the left as seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Outlet valve 22 is supported on diaphragms K and LL and contains a T-shaped exhaust port 99 in it.

Fig. 33, shows the exhaust port 23 from chamber 14 to the atmosphere.

Figs. 1, 4, and 2932 (Sheet 7), show that chamber 13 is formed between part L and diaphragm KK. Figs. 36, 33, 32, and 29 show that conduit 76 passes from chamber 16 through holes (not shown) in diaphragms K and LL to chamber 13. Figs. 1 and 32 show that communication is established between chamber 13 and conduit 76 by means of restriction 24.

Restrictions 24, 77, and 78 Restriction 24, a swell as restrictions 77 and 78, are of the type shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 15. Figs. 32 and 15 show that part L has a radially extending, screw threaded hole in it. Into this hole fit screw threads 97 on the outer tubular body of restriction 24, which has a tubular portion 98 of reduced size and an inner cavity or counterbore 99 into which is fitted a tube 100 of small cross section which forms the restriction proper. The outer end of this hole or bore beyond conduit 76 is closed by a screw-threaded plug 101.

Figs. 29, 28, 26, and 22 show that conduit 76A continues to the left from chamber 13 through part L, diaphragm 1], part K, diaphragm II, part I, chamber 11, conduit 76A, diaphragm HH, and part I to nozzle chamber 25A in part I (Fig. 22).

Fig. 22 shows nozzle chamber 25A extending radially of part I at the end of conduit 76A. The nozzle, gen erally indicated at 25, consists of an inner tubular member 25B having flanges adjacent its upper or outer end to receive a sealing ring 25C. The inner end of nozzle 25 which projects into chamber 10 has an inner bore of small area through it. The outer end of chamber 25A is sealed with a plug 25D.

Fig. 22 also shows that there is mounted in chamber 10 a flapper, generally indicated at 27, and comprising an L-shaped bracket 27A secured to part I by screw 27B and having a transversely extending portion 27C on which the flapper 27D is pivoted. A spring 27E biases the flapper 27D into engagement with the end of nozzle 25. Flapper 27D has a short leg 27F which engages the valve-actuating member 28 as will be more fully described hereinafter.'

Returning to Figs. 1-4, 32, 29, 28, 26, 21, 19, 18, 17, l6, l1 and 12 show that conduit 76 passes from chamber 16 to chambers 7 and 8 (through restriction 77) and to chamber 5 through restriction 78.

Restrictions 77 and 78 may be identical with restriction 24 (shown in Fig. 15) and are located in radially extending cavities in parts E and F respectively. The outer ends of these cavities are closed by screw threaded plugs 77A and 78A.

.Figs. 1, 4, 34, 35, 33, and 29, show that chamber 151s "7 connected to chamber 12 by conduits 80 and 90. Figs. 29, 31, 28, 26, 21, 23, 19, 18, '16, 11, 14, 7, and 8 show that chamber-15' is connected bymeans of conduits 80 and 82 with chamber 2.

Variable restrictions 81 and 86 Fig. 14 shows that at the junction of conduits 80 and 82 there is an adjustable restriction, generally indicated at 81, which controls the passages 1112 and 163, to chamber 6. Restriction 81 is the throttling range restriction. Figs. 11 and 14 show that it is located in a radially extending cavity atthe end of 1112. An indicator 104 is mounted on the outside surface of part B adjacent an operating handle 5. Conduit 102 is sealed from conduit 103 by a needle plug 1196 having a perforation through it in which is mounted a needle valve 187 secured at one end of a needle valve screw 108 which is fastened to ban dle 1G5'so that rotation of handle 1115 adjusts the amount of opening between needle 107 and the adjacent cylindrical opening in needle plug 106.

Parts E and F, chambers 6 and 7, and diaphragm DD form a one-to-one relay. Fig. 17 shows that chambers 7 and 8 are in open communication through an unrestricted conduit 109 which-communicates with the opposite side of restriction 77 from that connected to conduit 76. Figs. 1 and 13 show that chambers 5 and 6 are connected by a conduit 110 in which is located restriction 79 which may be identical with restriction 24 (Fig. Figs. 9, l0, 7, and 8 show that chamber 3 (which communicates with pipe 83) is connected with chamber 4 through a conduit 111 in which is located manually adjustable restriction, generally indicated at 86. Figs. 9 and 10 show that restriction 86 may be identical with restriction 81 except that in restriction 86 the needle is cylindrical instead of being conical. as is the needle 107 of restriction 81. Re-

' striction 86 is the reset adjustment.

Fig. 6 shows part B which has a diaphragm sealing cavity 112 in it' open to atmosphere through exhaust port 113;

Fig. 5" shows part A having motor cavity 1 in it to which air is adapted to be supplied from pipe 71, as is seen in Figs. 7, 4, and 5, which show that pipe 71 fits into a radially' extending cavity 114 in part C which communicates with a transversely extending cavity 115 communicating with a hole 116 in diaphragm BB, a hole 117 in part B, a hole 118- in diaphragm AA, and a fish hook shape hole 119 in part A communicates with chamber 1 therein.

Switch. plate for change from direct to reverse action Figs. 1, 4, 21, 25, and 37 show'the plate 73 Figs. 21 and 37 show that conduit 62 terminates in inletport 63 which. communicates by conduit 75 with a port 121 in the outer surface of part 1. Similarly, conduit 42 terminates in inlet port 43 which communicates by means-of conduit 74 with port 123- in the outer surface of part I. Part I also has two cavities 124' and 125 extending inward radially thereof, a short distance. Cavity 124 has, at its inner end, a transversely extending conduit 126 which communicates through gasket with a transversely extending port 126. (Figs. 26 and 27) having an inwardly extending portion 127 which communicates with chamber 11. Port. 125 likewise has at its inner end a transversely extending port. 128 which extends through an opening in gasket GG to port 128 in parts H which communicates through a radially extending port 129 with chamber 9 (Figs. 19 and Figs. 21 and show that plate 73 isadapted to be secured against the outer surface ofpart l which is shown in Fig.v 37., by means of a flat cover 130 and screws 131. Plate 73 has an irregularly shaped perforation 131 adapted to overlie port 121. Perforation 131 communicates with perforation 134- which overlies port 124- so that port 131- is connected to port 134 and consequently'set point pressure port 63 is connected with chamber 9 Plate'7'3- also has a perforation-133 which is conoverlies port 125. Consequently, there is 'an open comrnunication between port 123, perforations 133 and 135, and port 125, thus the variable pressure inlet port 43 is connected to chamber 11.

Plate 73 can change operation of the controller-from direct to reverse operation, that is, it is possible to change the operation of a controller from one in which the output pressure varies in the same direction as the input pressure to one in which the output pressure varies in the reverse direction to the input pressure. This switch from direct to reverse operation is accomplished by rotating plate 73 one hundred and eighty degrees from the'position in which itis shown in Fig. 25. In this reverse position, perforation 133 overlies perforation 121 and perforation 135A overlies perforation so that set point pressure inlet port 63 is connected to chamber 11. In this reverse position, perforation 131 overlies perforation 123 and perforation 134A overlies port 124. Thus, the variable pressure inlet port 43 is connected to chamber 9.

Plate 73 and cover may be modified by making the perforations 131, 133, 134', 135, 134A, and 135A simple holes andby forming the innerfaee of the cover 31) with corrugations of the shape shown in Fig. 25. This modification operates in exactly the same manner described.

Valve actuating rod 28 and spring bias applied thereto Figs. 1 and 4 show that the member, generally indicated at 28, which actuates the flapper generally indicated at 27, is supported in chambers 3, 9, 10, 1'1, and 12 by means of gaskets EE, FF, GG, HH, Ti, and J].

Member 28 consists essentially'of a bolt having a head 141 and a screw threaded end 142 to which a nut 143 is secured. The central portion of bolt 140 has a tube 144 slid over it. Tube 144 is provided with a boss having a flat, radially-extending face 145 which engages with the short leg 27F of valve 27 (Fig. 22). Fig. 23 shows a generally conical, helical spring 29 which stresses member 28 to the left as shown in the drawings. A generally U-shaped spring 36 engages face 14-5 of boss 144 and stresses member 28 to the right. The lower bight of spring 30 is engaged by the conical end 39A of a screw 3913 which is adjustable and which is secured in adjusted position by means of a locknut 30C. Screw 30B extends through a plate 38D forming one wall of chamber 10 and part I. A cap 30E very similar to the valve stem cap of an automobile tire encloses the outer end of stem B. Since the outer wall of part I is cylindrical while plate 30D is fiat, there is a leak around the edge of plate 30D which provides the exhaust 26 to atmosphere from chamber 10.

By adjustment of screw 30B, the bias which spring 30 exerts to the right of member 28 may be adjusted to be more or less than the bias which spring 29 exerts to the left. Thus, the position of balance or rest, which the valve-actuating. member 28 and its associated parts tend to assume when the. pressures applied to it are equal, may be adjusted by screw 30B.

Means to maintain diaphragm areas substantially constant Figs. 1, 4, 1'8, and' 28 show that diaphragm EE, part G and diaphragm FF define a chamber 159 which is vented to atmosphere through a port 151 and that diaphragm II, part K, a diaphragm J] define a chamber 161) which is vented to atmosphere through a port 161'. In chamber 151) between the valve-actuating member 28' and diaphragms EE and FF are reenforcement plates 152 and 153. In chamber 169 between valve-actuating member 28 anddiaphragms l1 and J] are reenforcement plates 162 and 13; These plates aid in preventing the diaphragms from distorting; despite the differences inpressures; applied to, the opposite sides thereof. and therefore aidv int maintaining. the, accuracy of the controller.

Throttling range or proportional band adjustment The throttling range restriction 81 and the cooperating fixed restriction 79 are designed to produce a narrowing of the proportional band or throttling range as the deviation from the control point increases in either direction. This action is desirable since it materially improves the speed of controller response without causing instability or hunting.

For very small differences in pressure between a point in conduit 30 and a point in chamber 5, the action of the restrictions 79 and 81 is to cause the controller to operate at a proportional band expressible by the following mathematical relationship:

Proportional band equals fixed band multiplied by where the fixed band is a constant determined by other components of the controller and the expressions R81 and R79 are the resistances to air flow of the restrictions 81 and 79, respectively.

From this expression it can be seen that, if R81 is increased, the proportional band is widened, and, if R31 is decreased, the band is made narrower. Conversely, if R79 is decreased, the band narrows, and, if R19 is decreased, the band widens. Restriction 81 is a manually adjustable restriction for setting the desired proportional band. Restriction S1 is also designed so that its resistance automatically reduces in value from the set value as the diflerence between the pressures in 80 and 5 increases numerically (i. e. as the deviation from the set point increases numerically). Then the operating band will be temporarily narrowed and the controller resistance will be improved. The same eflect can be produced if restriction 79 is made to increase in resistance as the deviation from set point or difference between pressures in 80 and 5 increases numerically.

The most convenient way of obtaining this action is to design the fixed restriction '79 as a capillary tube similar to the fixed restriction 24 (Fig. 15) so proportioned that, as the difierence between the pressures at 80 and 5 increases, the flow through the fixed restriction 79 changes from a laminar or viscous nature to a turbulent nature. it can be shown mathematically and experimentally that the transition from laminar to turbulent flow results in high values of resistance R79, thus narrowing the proportional band while the deviation from the set point is large. As the controller returns the process variable to the set point, the diflerence between the pressures at 80 and 5 is reduced and the proportional band returns to the previously set value.

By designing the variable restriction 81 as a tapered, variable, annular restriction (i. e. by providing restriction 81 with a conical needle valve 107 (Fig. 14)), the resistance to air flow of restriction 81 can be made to stay within the laminar or viscous range for all values of flow encountered within the range of controller operation. Thus, the undesirable effect of having the flow through the restriction 81 become turbulent and cause a widening of a proportional band is prevented.

An additional feature of this narrowing of the proportional band as the deviation increases numerically is that it oflsets an undesirable widening of the band which results when the pressure in conduit 80 drops below the pressure in chamber 5, this widening being caused by the compressibility of air.

One-to-orze relay The pressure divider circuit used for the proportional band adjustment causes a time lag in the overall resistance of the controller. This time lag is a critical function of the volume into which the positive feedback pressure is fed (i. e. chamber 8). a

The inclusion of a one-to-one pneumatic relay between the output chamber 6 of the throttling range adjustment circuit and the positive feedback chamber 8 of the controller permits a considerable reduction in the efiective volume included in the positive feedback circuit as compared to that which could otherwise be obtained practically. The response in controller output pressure to sudden changes in deviation between the process variable and the set point pressure is thereby improved considerably.

For this purpose, a one-to-one relay is employed comprising a motor or driving chamber 6 to which the throttling range adjustment pressure is applied through conduit 102 and variable restriction 81 and to which the reset pressure is applied through conduit and fixed retriction 79. Chamber 6 governs the pressure in chamber 7 to which air is fed from supply 20, conduit 76, restriction 77, a conduit 109 and which has an outlet 212 therefrom controlled by the diaphragm DD. The output of chamber 7 is fed through conduit 109 to the positive feedback chamber 8.

While, in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, we have illustrated and described the best form of the invention now known to us, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features of the invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A fluid-operated controller including, a casing composed of a plurality of interconnected parts defining chambers between them, a plurality of diaphragms sealing said chambers against leakage and dividing said chambers, a valve-operating element carried by at least one of said diaphragms, a second of said diaphragms and the cooperating chamber forming a fluid-operated motor, an inlet valve having a mechanical connection with said second diaphragm, an outlet valve having a mechanical connection with said second diaphragm, said inlet and outlet valves being operable to control the pressure in a chamber supplied from a source of fluid controlled by said inlet valve, said chamber being vented by said outlet valve, a port communicating with said second diaphragm and its chamber and with a source of fluid, a valve engaging said valveoperating element and controlling the flow of fluid through said port and thereby actuating said inlet or said outlet valve by means of said second diaphragm, a first spring biasing said valve-operating element in one direction and biasing said valve toward said port, a second frusto-conically coiled helical spring biasing said valve-operating element in the opposite direction and biasing said valve away from said port, a third spring biasing said valve-operating element in said one direction, and means manually operable from the outside of said casing to adjust the tension of one of said springs so that the natural force of said springs biases said valve-operating member and said valve toward said port or away from said port.

2. In an elastic-fluid-operated controller, a casing composed of a plurality of circular parts defining chambers between them, a plurality of circular diaphragms connected at their rims to said parts and sealing said chambers against leakage and separating said chambers from one another, one of said chambers and one of said diaphragms forming an elastic-fluid-operated motor operable to establish a regulated fluid pressure, a nozzle mounted on one of said parts and projecting into one of said chambers and connected to said motor for controlling the supply of fluid to and from said motor, a flapper pivotally mounted on one of said parts and controlling the flow of fluid through said nozzle, a coil spring biasing said flapper toward engagement with said nozzle, a valve-actuating member carried at the centers of said diaphragms and engaging said flapper, a second spring stressing said valve operating :member ;in aadirection to" cause said flapperrto move -a'gainstthe bias of :said -first spring, a sthird spring mounted on one=of 'saidtparts and'bearing'o'n said valveoperating 'membe'r,and-means accessible from the exterior of said casing-'foradjusting the tension of said third spring so that=the resultant bias of said springs on said valve-actuatingmember maybe in one direction or'the other.

3. a-Inanelastic-fluid-operated-controller having a hollow casing formed of a plurality of parts joined together, a=tubularnozzlemounted in a cavity in one of saidp'a'rts and extending into the-hollowin said casing, a plug screwthreadedly-mounted in said casing andnormally covering the outerend -of said cavity, a flapper pivotally mounted on said casi-ng, a spring biasing said flapper toward engagement with the-end of-saidnozzle a valve-actuating member engaging said flapper so as to move ittoward or away from 'said nozzle, spring means biasing said valveactuating member and manually operable means screwthreadedly mounted in said casing and engaging said spring means so as to adjust the bias exerted by said spring-means on said member so that said flapper is biased toward or away from said nozzle.

4. 1m a controller operated by an elastic fluid, a plurality of circular parts fastened together to form a casing having a chamber therein, a tubular nozzle screw-threaded ly mounted in a cavity in'the wall of one of said parts and projecting into the chamber in said casing, a plug screw-threadedly mounted in said casing and normally covering the outer end of said cavity, a flapper pivotally mounted in said chamber on one of said parts, a spring biasing said flapper toward-engagement with the inner end of said nozzle, a valve-actuating member movably mounted in said chamber and engaging said flapper, spring means biasing said member, a screw threadedly mounted in one of said-parts and engaging said spring means and manually operable" to vary the bias said spring means exerts on said member so -that said flapper is biased toward or away from said nozzle, anda cap screw-threadedly mounted on one of said parts and covering the outerend of said screw. 7

5. In a controller operated by an elastic fluid, a casing having an inlet for elastic fluid therein, a first relay having a' firstcontrol chamber and a first controlled chamber and an inlet valve and an exhaust valve communicating with said first controlled chamber, a nozzle communicating with said'inlet port and said first control chamber, a first one-toone relay having a second control. chamber and a second controlled chamber and an exhaust valve communicating with said second controlledchamber, a second one-tonne relay having-a third control chamber and a third controlled chamber and an-exhaust valve communicating with said second controlled chamber, conduits connecting said first control chamber and said second and said third controlled chambers to said inlet, re- 'strictions each locatedtin parallel with the other restrictions in'branches in said conduit between said chambers and said inlet, and a single filter located between each of said connected to said selector means soas to operate it, a

first manually operable valve adjustable to connect said motor-to a source of pressure or to exhaust and thereby controlling the operation of said motor, a second manually operable valve manually operable to connect said control valve to-said second air pressure or to disconnect said control valve from said second air pressure, and an interlock between saidfirst valve and said second valve wherebvsaidisecond valve closes connection-between saidrsecasourceof compressed air, an inlet nozzle in said cham-,

her and connected with said source of compressed air, an exhaust valve mounted so as to be moved by the movements of said motor, a flapper mounted in said chamber and biased toward engagement with said exhaust valve and said inlet nozzle, a controller under the'control of each ofsaidtransmitters, a transfer switch controlling the connection of said'controller to or from said final controlelement, an 'air-pressure-operated motor mechanically connected to said transfer switch so as to operate it, and amanuallyoperable valve controlling the operation of said motor by connecting said motor to a source of pressure or toexhaust.

18. 'A control device including, an automatically operated air-pressure transmitter, a manually-operated airpressure-transmitter, an air-pressure-operated controller connected for opertaion-by said automatically operated or bysaidma-nually operated transmitter, a first valve controlling the connection between said controller anda final control'valve, a second valve controlling the connection between-said manually-operated transmitter and a'final" control element, an air-pressure-operated motor controlling-the operation of said first valve, a manuallyoperated valve controlling the operation of saidair-pressure-operated motor, and transfer valve mechanism interlocking said manually operable valve and said second valve-for'closing one ofsaid valves and for opening the other of-saidvalves.

9. Inan air-pressure-operated automatically or manually actuated mechanism for operating a final control valve, an air-pressure-operated device responsive to air pressure which is automatically operable in response to a'valve-selected to govern the system, an air-pressureoperated device responsive to a manually-operated airpressure-controlling valve, a first valve connected between nected toysaidfirst valve so as to operate .it, a second 7 valve connected between said manually-operated device and the final control valve, a third manually-operated valve controlling the operation of said motor, and an interlockingmechanism between said second valve and said third valve insuring that said first valve is closed when said second valve is open and vice versa.

10; -An :air-pressure-operated mechanism for controllinga final control valve from a distance, said mechanism including, an air-pressure-operated controller, a pneumatic circuit insaidcontroller including a restriction causing said controller to have a reset mode of operation, means operated by said controller controlling a first air pressure'depending upon the value of a condition, mannally-toperable'means controlling a second air pressure, a connection open at all times between said control valve and saidrestriction causing reset of said controller, a conduit in said pneumatic circuit paralleling said restriction and of sufficient capacity to render said restriction negligible, selector means operative in one direction to connect said first. pressure and said control valve and to disconnect .said conduit from said first and second air lpressuresand operable in the opposite direction to disconnectsaidtfirst pressure and said control valve and to connect said conduit to said second pressure and to said control valve, an .ainpressureeoperated, motor mechanically connected to said selector means to operate it, and

a manually operable valve adjustable to connect said motor to a supply of pressure or to exhaust and to thereby cause said motor to actuate said selector means.

11. A fluid-operated controller having a plurality of parts fastened together to form a casing, a first chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a fluid pressure proportional to the set point of the controller, a second chamber in said casing having a movable Wall and adapted to receive a fluid pressure proportional to the measured variable governing said controller, a third chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a fluid pressure proportional to any differences between the set point pressure and the measured variable pressure, a fourth chamber in said casing having inlet and outlet valves communicating therewith and connected under the control of the movable wall of said third chamber so that a pressure in said fourth chamber is in amplified proportion to the pressure in said third chamber, a fifth chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a negative feedback pressure from said fourth chamber and to oppose this pressure to the measured variable pressure in said second chamber, a sixth chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a positive feedback pressure which varies in proportion to the changes in the pressure in said fourth chamber and to apply this pressure in the same direction as the measured variable in said second chamber, a restriction interposed in the connection from said fourth chamber to delay the application of said positive feedback pressure to said sixth chamber, a first valve in the connection from said fourth chamber to said restriction and adapted to open or close said connection, a connection in parallel with and sufficiently larger than said restriction to render said restricu'on inoperative to delay the application of said positive feedback pressure to said sixth chamber when said connection is open, a second valve controlling the flow of fluid through said connection, and an interlock between said first valve and said second valve whereby one valve is open when the other is closed and vice versa.

12. A fluid-operated controller having a plurality of parts fastened together to form a casing, a first chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a fluid pressure proportional to the set point of the controller, a second chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a fluid pressure proportional to the measured variable governing said controller, a third chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a fluid pressure proportional to any ditferences between the set point pressure and the measured variable pressure, a fourth chamber in said casing having inlet and outlet valves communicating therewith and connected under the control of the movable wall of said third chamber so that a pressure in said fourth chamber is in amplified proportion to the pressure in said third chamber, a fifth chamber in said casing having a movable'wall and adapted to receive a negative feedback pressure from said fourth chamber and to oppose this pressure to the measured variable pressure in said second chamber, a sixth chamber in said casing having a movable wall and adapted to receive a positive feedback pressure which varies in proportion to the changes in the pressure in said fourth chamber and to apply this pressure in the same direction as the measured variable in said second chamber, a restriction interposed in the connection from said fourth chamber to delay the application of said positive feedback pressure to said sixth chamber, a first valve in the connection from said fourth chamber to said restriction and adapted to open or close said connection, a connection in parallel with and sufliciently larger than said restriction to render said restriction inoperative to delay the application of said positive feedback pressure to said sixth chamber when said connection is open, a second valve controlling the flow of fluid through said connection, an interlock between said first valve and said second valve whereby one valve is open when the other is closed and vice versa, fluid-pressureoperated motor connected to said interlock so as to operate said first and second valves, and a manually-operated valve controlling the connection of said motor to a supply of fluid pressure or to exhaust so as to control the operation of said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,275 Martin Oct. 30, 1894 653,187 Smith July 3, 1900 2,098,913 Dickey Nov. 9, 1937 2,112,466 Maloon Mar. 29, 1938 2,240,243 Mason Apr. 29, 1941 2,369,887 Eckman Feb. 20, 1945 2,481,395 Carns Sept. 6, 1949 2,517,051 Swenson Aug. 1, 1950 2,518,244 Moore Aug. 8, 1950 2,518,674 Fischer Aug. 15, 1950 2,520,547 Hughes Aug. 29, 1950 2,539,892 Cook Jan. 30, 1951 2,584,455 Hughes Feb. 5, 1952 2,588,678 Wills Mar. 11, 1952 2,588,799 Booth Mar. 11, 1952 2,631,570 Bowditch Mar. 17, 1953 2,638,911 Griswold et al May 19, 1953 2,701,576 Higgins Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,643 Great Britain Apr. 22, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES Moore Products Co., Phila., Pa., Nullmatic Controller Instructions 505-8, 1948, pp. 2-7, 11, 23. 

